Governor General

The Governor General of British Columbia (Chinook Wawa: Hyas Tyee yaka Pesman (literally, "Big Chief's Faceman") is the viceregal representative of the British Columbian monarch, currently Queen Elizabeth II. Because the person of the sovereign is shared equally both with the other British Commonwealth Realms and resides predominantly in her oldest realm, the United Kingdom, she, on the advice of the Prime Minister, appoints the Governor General to carry out most of her constitutional and ceremonial duties. The commission is for an unfixed period of time—known as serving at Her Majesty's pleasure. Once in office, the governor general maintains direct contact with the Queen, wherever she may be at the time. Since 1977, the Council of (tribal) Chiefs elects a nominee from amongst themselves, who is then recommended by the Prime Minister to the Queen.

Governors of the Colony of Vancouver Island (1849 - 1866)

 * 1849 - 1851 Richard Blanshard
 * 1851 - 1864 Sir James Douglas KCB
 * 1864 - 1866 Sir Arthur Edward Kennedy CB GCMG

Governors of the Colony of British Columbia (1858 - 1866)

 * 1858 - 1864 Sir James Douglas KCB
 * 1864 - 1866 Frederick Seymour

Governors General of the Crown Colony of British Columbia (1866 - 1875)

 * 1866 - 1869 Frederick Seymour
 * 1869 - 1871 Sir Anthony Musgrave KCMG
 * 1871 - 1875 Sir Arthur Nonus Birch KCMG

Governors General of the Dominion of British Columbia (1875 to date)

 * 1875 - 1876 Sir Arthur Nonus Birch KCMG
 * 1876 - 1881 Albert Norton Richards QC
 * 1881 - 1887 Clement Francis Cornwall
 * 1887 - 1892 Hugh Nelson
 * 1892 - 1897 Sir Edgar Dewdney KCMG PC
 * 1897 - 1904 Capt. Sir Albert Henry George Grey, 4th Earl Grey GCB GCMG GCVO PC
 * 1904 - 1909 James Dunsmuir, 2nd Baron Esquimalt GCMG GCVO PC
 * 1909 - 1914 Thomas Wilson Paterson
 * 1914 - 1919 Sir Francis Stillman Barnard KCMG PC
 * 1919 - 1920 Edward Gawler Prior PC
 * 1920 - 1926 Walter Cameron Nichol
 * 1926 - 1931 Robert Randolph Bruce
 * 1931 - 1936 John William Fordham Johnson
 * 1936 - 1941 Eric Werge Hamber
 * 1941 - 1946 William Culham Woodward
 * 1946 - 1950 Sir Charles Arthur Banks CMG
 * 1950 - 1955 Sir Clarence Wallace CMG
 * 1955 - 1960 Sir Frank Mackenzie Ross CMG MC
 * 1960 - 1968 Sir George Randolph Pearkes VC KBC OD CB DSO MC BCFD PC
 * 1968 - 1973 Sir John Robert Nicholson OBE KBC OD QC PC
 * 1973 - 1977 Sir Walter Stewart Owen OBE KBC OD QC PC
 * 1977 - 1981 Tyee Sir Geswanouth Dan George Slaholt OBE KBC OD PC
 * 1981 - 1989 Tyee Sir William Robert Reid OBE KBC OD PC
 * 1989 - 1995 Tyee Dame Tseybalotl Harriet Nahanee DBC OD PC
 * 1995 - 2001 Tyee Sir Stewart Phillip KBC OD PC
 * 2001 - 2007 Tyee Sir Arthur Manuel KBC OD PC
 * 2007 to date Tyee Sir Xweliqweltel Steven Lewis Point KBC OD PC